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A variety of extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds have been promising in various tissue engineering applications, such as the porcine small intestinal submucosa. Yet no particular scaffolds have been optimal for vocal fold regeneration. The decellularized human umbilical vein (HUV) is a novel allogeneic scaffold that has shown some promise for cardiovascular tissue engineering. This study examines...
HeartLander is a small, mobile robot designed to assist with surgical procedures on the surface of the heart. It crawls within the pericardial sac surrounding the heart. The friction forces HeartLander experiences from the pericardium and the heartbeat reduce locomotion efficiency. We have developed an algorithm that creates a plan for reaching a set of treatment targets, while minimizing the time...
This work presents a numerical simulation of the flow inside agitated well plates commonly used to study bacterial biofilms. The time-varying wall shear stresses are deduced from the calculated velocity field and validated experimentally. The results elucidate aspects of temporal and spatial distribution of the shear stresses acting on biofilm structures grown within these plates. It is shown that...
To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increases cancer cell adhesion to intact microvessels, we measured adhesion rates of MDA-MB-435s human breast cancer cells in the postcapillary venule of rat mesentery by in vivo video microscopy. An individual postcapillary venule in the mesentery was cannulated via a glass micropipette filled with cancer cells and 1% BSA Ringer solution...
It is well known that certain forms of organic mercury (such as methylmercury) are neurotoxic. What has been of significant interest in recent years relates to the levels of mercury which become bioavailable after injecting vaccines which contain the ethylmercury-based preservative Thimerosal and whether those levels are significant enough to disrupt normal neuronal communication. This study does...
Energy metabolism rates have been hypothesized to reflect abnormalities in diseases such as heart failure and diabetes. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, these rates can be imaged in multiple locations in the body. Due to similarities in muscle striations between myocardial and skeletal tissues, the metabolism of these substances will be imaged in the leg in order to increase patient...
Isosorbide is a bicyclic ether derivative of glucose. It is recognized as a ??green?? substance and is hygroscopic at > 30% relative humidity. Since it is water soluble and harmless, isosorbide is used as a multi-functional carrier in many pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. In order to find a ??green?? replacement for polyethyleneoxide in cosmetic formulations, glycerine (propanetriol) a...
Over 450,000 Americans suffer from degenerative muscle diseases characterized by loss of strength and dexterity in the human hand. An assistive hand exoskeleton was designed to amplify residual muscle strength and restore functionality by assisting pinching and grasping motions. The device featured three movable digits: thumb, index, and middle-ring-small (MRS) digit. Adjustable straps wrapped around...
With the advent of the technology in medical imaging, cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a non-invasive procedure, has been used to determine diagnostic information on cardiac function. Given the inherent difficulty in imaging the heart in motion, many efforts have been made to improve cardiac motion tracking and eliminate motion related artifacts. A dynamic heart phantom (DHP) capable of simulating...
Activated astrocytes have been implicated in the deleterious cascade of events immediately following traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, primary astrocytes were activated by a well-characterized stretch injury model of TBI. Nitrite production, an outcome measure for activation in astrocytes, increased significantly after injury. Using the cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) TAT, delivery of a...
4D ultrasound has the potential to provide complex temporal information needed for the proper diagnosis of cardiac pathologies. The objective of this study is to demonstrate a potential pipeline for the clinical evaluation of 4D cardiac strain using only 4D (RT3D) ultrasound data. First, 4D cardiac ultrasound data is collected using a Siemens SC2000 Ultrasound machine. Then, the raw Rho-Theta data...
High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) is a promising in vivo imaging technique that can be used to assess the three-dimensional microstructure of the radius and tibia. Micro finite element models can also be constructed from these images to estimate the mechanical competence of these sites, giving this technique the potential in the clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis...
CD151 plays an important role in the regulation of cell migration, vascular morphogenesis, and cancer metastasis. Many of these processes are related to the strength of cell-matrix attachment. In this study, traction force microscopy (TFM) was used to determine whether knockdown of CD151 in endothelial cells would lead to a significant modification in cell-matrix adhesion. Human dermal microvascular...
Current delivery systems for vaccines present major logistical problems when large populations need to be vaccinated within a short time period, such as in the case of a pandemic. An efficient and effective method for pandemic vaccination is the driving force of the research performed by our group. The proposed alternative vaccination technique consists of a self-administrable patch made of electrospun...
A mathematical model of short-term arterial pressure regulation by the carotid baroreflex was integrated with a simple cardiovascular model to study the interactions between the baroreguation and the pusating heart. The cardiovascular system was modeled as an electric circuit, consisting of the left ventricle as a time-varying capacitance, the systemic circulation as a four-element RLC circuit, the...
We are testing degradation rates of calcium sulfate/polymer composites meant for use as bone graft substitutes. The goal is to demonstrate the potential of composite degradable and biocompatible materials that will resorb slower than pure calcium sulfate. We will determine which composites give us degradation profiles that are appropriate for different types of bone regeneration.
Independence in the development of daily tasks, such as grasping and moving objects, play a key role in the well being of people who are physically challenged due to impartment in their upper extremities. New technologies in the form of robotic manipulators resembling human-scale arms may present a promising future, provided that they can be controlled in ways that resemble human movements. Our work...
Our objective is to develop a highly miniaturized, solid-phase platform for assaying the function and inhibition of integral membrane proteins (IMPs). To functionalize materials with active membrane proteins, the challenge is to build stabilized, supported biomembranes in which the substrate to biomembrane spacing can be controlled to accommodate larger membrane protein. The silica microsphere (5...
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